Classic Drum Solos and Drum Battles DVD

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A must for students and fans of jazz drumming, Classic Drum Solos and Drum Battles should also be seen by those whose exposure to drumming has been limited to crash-and-bang rock drummers, most of whom couldn't play a real solo if their paradiddles depended on it. The solos here are from separate performances recorded between 1957 and 1978. Those by Rufus Jones (who makes clear why his nickname was "Speedy"), Louis Bellson (whose trademarks are flawless technique and two bass drums), Joe Morello (the superbly musical drummer of Dave Brubeck's best quartet), and Buddy Rich (the most blindingly fast and powerful drummer of them all) are alone worth the price of the video. But you'll also see Art Blakey, Gene Krupa, Sam Woodyard, Cozy Cole, and seven other top jazz drummers of the mid-20th century--15 in all.

The "drum battles" are interesting enough--except the nonsensical one between Buddy Rich and Jerry Lewis (yes, that Jerry Lewis)--but they're not the reason for getting the video. Classic Drum Solos is nothing less than a history of jazz drumming presented in a series of uncut drum solos on a single, 60-minute videotape. With many of these drummers now gone, here's a rare chance to hear them again, in all their irreplaceable greatness. --Charles Smyth

Description

This 60 minute DVD features fifteen of the true "legends of jazz drumming" in astounding extended solos and in rare, never-before-seen drum duels filmed over the last five decades. Among the highlights are uncut solos from big band legends Sonny Payne, Rufus Jones, Buddy Rich, Sam Woodyard and Louis Bellson as well as small group giants Art Blakey and Joe Morello. Rare drum battles include meetings between Gene Krupa and Cozy Cole, Buddy Rich and Ed Shaughnessy, Chico Hamilton, Gene Krupa, and Lionel Hampton, and a once-in-a-lifetime battle between Buddy Rich and Jerry Lewis!

Customer Reviews:

Great survey of some great drummers.......2004-12-01

I could dissect this DVD, but am going to resist the temptation and cite only the drummers who I admire the most and who held my attention.

My idol is Louie Belson, and the clip showing his does not disappoint. I loved the clip with Cozy Cole and Gene Krupa. I think Krupa was a great drummer and superb showman, but Cozy Cole blew him away in the short clip with the two of them.

Joe Morello is another favorite who works wonders with odd time signatures. His short piece in this video is classic Morello and exposes a lot of his technique since he starts the set by playing his kit with his hands! I learned much from that segment.

Blakely is another drummer who I thoroughly enjoyed watching and hearing, and like the Morello clip, I was able to add to my technique. However, as good as Belson's work on this DVD was, the highlight in my opinion was the Lionel Hampton sequences which showcased the genius of this vibe player who was also a master of a drum kit.

You'll pick up a large number of tips and techniques as you watch this DVD a few times, and will find that each drummer highlighted will have a subtle influence on your own style. The entertainent value is as high as the learning value.

A mixed bag - aficionados only.......2004-02-04

I was personally most excited by the drumming sequence featuring Sunny Murray who seems to exude music through his whole body as if his body was part of the drum kit or the drum kit was an extension of his body. Music has got to be the thing so I'm less taken with Buddy Rich who is the "fastest drummer alive with the greatest technique etc" but I find musically uninteresting. Elvin Jones I was also taken with. The sequence with Louis Bellson was definitely the most accomplished in terms of development, musical interest and structure whilst Joe Morello being described by narrator Peter Erskine as the "poet" of the drum kit, may well be right. For drummers and jazz lovers.

a history lesson.......2003-12-13

Thankyou Hudson Music for putting this out. It not only helps keep some great drummers music and contributions alive, but its great fun to watch and is very instructional-since you get to see some of the founding fathers of drumming. Every drummer should see these old clips because then you can understand where the great drummers of today come from.
This is a must for your collection.

There must be better footage than this?!.......2002-08-20

I'm pretty disappointed with this video. For starters, I wish that Hudson Music could've provided better audio/video examples of Rufus "Speedy" Jones (poor audio), Elvin Jones (not enough), Sonny Payne (poor video) and Chico Hamilton (not enough). Maybe it wasn't possible to get better examples, but i don't see the point watching a video where it's next to impossible to make out Sonny Payne's stick-twirling display while he solos. I also wished that Hudson Music played a few bars of music from each act leading into the drum solo, rather than have the drum solo already underway as the video appears. The drum battles were very short and for the most part a waste (they almost always are). Highlights for me included the Buddy Rich (not the bit with Jerry Lewis), Louie Bellson, Joe Morello and Sam Woodyard solos. I'm glad i didn't pay the retail price for this.

All Rich and Bellson.......2002-07-23

Great tape but too much of Bellson and Rich.
Rufus "Speedy" Jones has the best solo.
Too bad there's no Max Roach or Kenny Clarke.
Not enough Elvin Jones.
Very inspirational though. Wish it was longer.

Classic Drum Solos & Drum Battles Volume 2 DVD

Average customer rating:

Not so Classic Drum Solos & Drum Battles Volume 2 DVD
A slice of history

Classic Drum Solos & Drum Battles Volume 2 DVD
Starring: Various , and Rufus ¿Speedy¿ Jones
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

Music Video & Concerts | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Special Interests | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00006EDPF
Release Date: 2002-07-01

Description

Includes a printable version of the 40 snare drum rudiments approved by the Percussive Arts Society. Features solos from legends like Art Blakey, Shelly Manne, Sonny Payne, Sam Woodyard, Lionel Hampton, Rufus "Speedy" Jones and others!

Customer Reviews:

Not so Classic Drum Solos & Drum Battles Volume 2 DVD.......2007-04-09

I am not happy with this one. It is difficult to watch. There are other DVD out there with much better "classic" drum solos.

A slice of history.......2004-12-02

Among the fifteen performances on this DVD my favorites were the segments featuring Papa Joe Jones, Blakey and Manne - and, of course, Lionel Hampton who is talented on drums and vibes and a showman of the first order.

There are the standard Krupa and Rich clips, sure to delight their fans (and what drummer isn't?), as well as a few interesting sequences performed by Sam Woodyard (very talented and unique), and Rufus Speedy Jones among others.

I personally liked the first volume (ASIN B00005RDSJ) more, but still enjoyed this one and learned a lot from it. Any drummer, regardless of musical genre, should visit the roots of American jazz drumming, which influences how we all play today, regardless of whether we play jazz, rock, country or other styles. You'll discover that some of your own grooves and techniques were being played by these early masters of jazz drumming. You'll also pick up a few tircks and tips in the process.

Drum Classics Pack: Classic Drum Solos and Drum Battles, Volume 1 and 2

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Drum Classics Pack: Classic Drum Solos and Drum Battles, Volume 1 and 2

Manufacturer: Hudson Music
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Songbooks | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: 1423404815

Book Description

This money-saving set includes the complete DVD packages for Classic Drum Solos and Drum Battles, Volumes 1 and 2. Each DVD presents 15 drumming legends. At a savings of $20 with more than 2 hours of footage in all, this package is a great deal! Also available separately: Classic Drum Solos and Drum Battles Volume 1 - 00320289/$29.95 Classic Drums Solos and Drum Battles Volume 2 - 00320335/$29.95

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